On Becoming a Writer (at long last)
If you are someone who finds joy in the written word as I do, I can highly recommend not procrastinating, prevaricating or just plain putting it off for another moment. Even if your idols sit atop very high pedestals and your first efforts are embarrassing, to say the least, just do it!
I decided to get over myself, it only took 42 years, and I'm now very disciplined about writing 500 words a day, this despite juggling several jobs - my lovely home studio Flow and teaching English online - not to mention being the CEO of a family which is apparently equivalent to 2,5 full time jobs. The goal of 500 words per day is absolutely achievable, so basically I didn't set myself up to fail. This is a simple but profound step in the right direction. It's been awesome to discover how easily those 500 words fall into place. I don't allow myself to re-read or edit or doubt anything about this subpar first draft. I just get it on the page. I am using the free writer's software Bibisco to help organise my thoughts and it really does keep one going. And did I mention it's free?! What a wonderful world.
When I'm not teaching or managing the million and one logistics of my children's extra-curriculars, social lives (at least they have one), etc etc etc I listen to podcasts...usually while taxiing said children to the aforementioned. I can highly recommend the cheery Brit Joanna Penn who is full of advice and up to date developments in the world of indie publishing. Gosh she's fab -- terribly inspiring and can-do. Then The Alliance of Independent Authors just hosted this free Self-Publishing Advice Conference which 100% rocked my world. South Africans, thanks to this nifty world wide web we are quite integrated even though we really are at the ends of the earth and this local author, Rachel Morgan, can answer any specific questions you might have around self-publishing.
In the mean time I dusted off my old short stories, some of which I've been sitting on for oh, just about 20 years, and submitted them to at least a dozen online journals. Here's a fantastic subreddit listing more journals than you can shake a stick at (to be exact, 155 the last time I checked) that will pay you for your scribbles. How cool is that?! I've already been rejected by two and I'm quite delighted. The last rejection letter was really kind and encouraging and seemed to imply that someone had actually taken the time to read what I'd written, which is just the most exciting thing I can think of. It definitely takes a chunk of time reading through the various submission requirements and tweaking your bits and bobs to fit said requirements, but at least they're not hiding in a folder any more.
In terms of freelance writing gigs let me summarise my far-too-many-hours of trial and error. I went ahead and joined every single job board for freelancers -- All Freelance Writing, ProBlogger and BloggingPro definitely offer some legit gigs with decent pay, but good luck getting anything. The competition is fierce and if you're starting out, well there are 10 000 articles on that (rough estimate), here's one. Guru and Freelancer list oodles of jobs but, my word, there is a lot of dodgy stuff on offer -- students clearly getting out of writing their research papers (is that even legal?) and employers who couldn't be more vague or, judging from their appalling ads, illiterate. There is such a glut of desperate freelancers outbidding one another that the going rate is rock bottom. If you're just starting out you'll be wondering what the going rate for a freelance writer is, wonder no more. Upwork might be better, if you can actually get in...that's right folks, there are so many freelancers that they aren't accepting any writers (although go for it, you might have the rare combination of specialised skills they're looking for). Then don't get too excited when an outfit like Contena strings you along and 'opens up' a place for you, because you'll have to pay them for the privilege of hunting through the same jobs you can find on the job boards listed above. You're welcome!
In short, go ahead and write your novel. Self-publishing on Amazon couldn't be easier, they hold your hand through the whole thing, it's FREE and you stand to earn 70% on your sales. Of course the ease means there's a ton of stuff out there but if you go exclusive with Kindle Direct Publishing you can give your book away for free...say what?! My book that I slaved over? Yes indeed. Getting eyes on it and reviews is the name of the game. Apparently you have to make sure you have an active platform with at least 1000 dedicated followers. You must get their email addresses too. You live, you learn. I've been blogging forever and haven't garnered a single solitary address. My bad. I just activated this possibility tonight so please feel free to give me yours and I promise to keep you entertained. There's a button or two or three (I didn't want you to have to work any harder than necessary) on my blog where you can subscribe. I promise not to spam you as I cannot bear a cluttered inbox.
I hope this was helpful. Remember: writers write. Go for it!
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| A cloud quill - the firmament my parchment...writing in the ether |
When I'm not teaching or managing the million and one logistics of my children's extra-curriculars, social lives (at least they have one), etc etc etc I listen to podcasts...usually while taxiing said children to the aforementioned. I can highly recommend the cheery Brit Joanna Penn who is full of advice and up to date developments in the world of indie publishing. Gosh she's fab -- terribly inspiring and can-do. Then The Alliance of Independent Authors just hosted this free Self-Publishing Advice Conference which 100% rocked my world. South Africans, thanks to this nifty world wide web we are quite integrated even though we really are at the ends of the earth and this local author, Rachel Morgan, can answer any specific questions you might have around self-publishing.
In the mean time I dusted off my old short stories, some of which I've been sitting on for oh, just about 20 years, and submitted them to at least a dozen online journals. Here's a fantastic subreddit listing more journals than you can shake a stick at (to be exact, 155 the last time I checked) that will pay you for your scribbles. How cool is that?! I've already been rejected by two and I'm quite delighted. The last rejection letter was really kind and encouraging and seemed to imply that someone had actually taken the time to read what I'd written, which is just the most exciting thing I can think of. It definitely takes a chunk of time reading through the various submission requirements and tweaking your bits and bobs to fit said requirements, but at least they're not hiding in a folder any more.
In terms of freelance writing gigs let me summarise my far-too-many-hours of trial and error. I went ahead and joined every single job board for freelancers -- All Freelance Writing, ProBlogger and BloggingPro definitely offer some legit gigs with decent pay, but good luck getting anything. The competition is fierce and if you're starting out, well there are 10 000 articles on that (rough estimate), here's one. Guru and Freelancer list oodles of jobs but, my word, there is a lot of dodgy stuff on offer -- students clearly getting out of writing their research papers (is that even legal?) and employers who couldn't be more vague or, judging from their appalling ads, illiterate. There is such a glut of desperate freelancers outbidding one another that the going rate is rock bottom. If you're just starting out you'll be wondering what the going rate for a freelance writer is, wonder no more. Upwork might be better, if you can actually get in...that's right folks, there are so many freelancers that they aren't accepting any writers (although go for it, you might have the rare combination of specialised skills they're looking for). Then don't get too excited when an outfit like Contena strings you along and 'opens up' a place for you, because you'll have to pay them for the privilege of hunting through the same jobs you can find on the job boards listed above. You're welcome!
In short, go ahead and write your novel. Self-publishing on Amazon couldn't be easier, they hold your hand through the whole thing, it's FREE and you stand to earn 70% on your sales. Of course the ease means there's a ton of stuff out there but if you go exclusive with Kindle Direct Publishing you can give your book away for free...say what?! My book that I slaved over? Yes indeed. Getting eyes on it and reviews is the name of the game. Apparently you have to make sure you have an active platform with at least 1000 dedicated followers. You must get their email addresses too. You live, you learn. I've been blogging forever and haven't garnered a single solitary address. My bad. I just activated this possibility tonight so please feel free to give me yours and I promise to keep you entertained. There's a button or two or three (I didn't want you to have to work any harder than necessary) on my blog where you can subscribe. I promise not to spam you as I cannot bear a cluttered inbox.
I hope this was helpful. Remember: writers write. Go for it!
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